St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-12
POINTS ON WHIST.
The Way in Which CIeverly Bad
Play Prevails Over Good PLAY.


The following dissertation on the good
old game of whist was contributed to
the st. Louis Globe-Democrat by Prof.
Richard A. Proctor:
have given some attention for a long
time past to the way in which good play
at whist prevails over bad play, so that
although for an evening, OF even for
several days, inferior play may secure
the greatest number OF points, in the
long run better play tells, and certain
percentage of advance infallibly shows
itself ere many hundreds of points on
either side have been scored. Nearly
always | have observed the more Scien-
tific play (by which | do not refer to
such details as knowing all the settled
points of play-the ''signal," the ''echo,"
the 'penultimate," etc, but following
true strategic principles succeeds most
notably against those points on which
the unscientific player is most apt to
drawing two trumps for one, when the
enemy has declared great strength in
trumps; declining to force the enemy;
putting off play by which a sure trick
will go to the enemy though nothing
can prevent the trick so going, and it
may be of essential Importance to throw
the lead into his hand at the moment,
with number of other clever lodges
which are sure ways to failure in the
long run, though they may turn out
well perhaps five or six times i'll score
of trials.
But nothing shows the whist player
better the value of sound play than to
play for awhile with one that does not
understand the true principles of whist
strategy, and puts trust in unSOund
lodges. Especially while as yet he is
unaware of of his partners foibleS does
he suffer; for, with a partner of known
inaptitude, he, of course, does not at
tempt the higher strategy, knowing
that his plans will inevitably be
knocked on the head.
Here is an example which will not
put into tabular form, but describe it as
it presented itSeif-unpleaSant my
attention.
was the original leader, and on ex-
aiming my hand found that it con-
tanned the following pleasing set of
cards (the ace of spades having been
turned on my right: Spades-queen,
ten, nine, four, three: diamonds-king.
queen, knave, ten, eight-heart, ace; and
clubS-king. nine.
A charming hand to play with good
partner holding fair supporting hand.
The object to be aimed at, of course, is
to bring in the long diamonds, and with
five trumps. heart ace and guarded
king in clubs, this seems very likely to
be brought off. Had been free to look
at my partners hand in this case [
should have made sure of bringing it
Off with ease, unless he proved to be a
very weak player. Let us see what
happened: OF course. led spade on
the original fourth best trump;
small trump fell OH my left;
,,ln
and the trump card, the ace, took the
trick. My right-hand opponent, H., led
heart five; my ace took the trick; and
four and three fell from Y. and B.,
showing that two must be with H., and,
of course, three others, since he
had led his fourth best. | now natur-
ally lead the spade queen, the three
high trumps left in my hand being now
in sequence. King took it on my right.
my partner played small trump. and
Il. renOunced. This renOunce was, of
that Y. either held two more OF three.
If he only held two, however. | was
still sure of success in bringing i'll
my diamonds, provided my partner
played rightly. Y. returned his partner
heart six (the lowest left, except Us
two; my partner took the trick with my
king; Il. playedIthe two.and | discarded
club nine. At this stage the game was
won. My partner held another small
trump. We had already made two tricks
to the enemy's two. If my, partner
more tricks, extracting both Y.'s; have
led diamond king, which Y. would have
taken with the single ace he held; and
on his leading heart (his only reasOna-
BILE lead, but it was Indifferent what he
held, as my partner held club ace)
should have ruffed and made my four
remaining diamonds, the last trick
going to my partners club ace. We
should thus have made four by tricks.
But my partner deliberately committed
the atIocity of forcing me Original
trump leader though was) by leading
a heart. on which Il. put a little one, so
ruffing the best heart. yet was unable to
resist the force, as l could place two
more hearts in US hand so that the
force could be repeated by him and then
by Il, (The inexperienced whist player
may ask how / knew Y. had two
hearts left: imply because my
partner not leading the best, Us play
showed he knew Y. could take the trick,
which at once made his return of the
lowest at the fourth trick indicate three
hearts then in hand, for. eveky good
highest of two. / therefore ruffed, and
now, play as might. we could make
only two by tricks. | led my diamond
king, Y. took it with the ace and, fore
ing one in hearts, remained with two
trumps to my one. If L had taken out
both his trumps and then led diamond
king he would have brought in his part
ner's hearts and we should have Jared
worse. If l had taken ont but one of
L.. 4 -,
king he could have forced out my last
trump with heart, and on ruffing my
diamond queen would have led his re-
manning heart.
My partners reason for his atrocious
play was that he saw chance of giving
me ruff and making one of his own
trumpS in ruff. For the chance of one
trick (my ruff. of course, was not a trick
gaineD he-the weak hand-ruined in
stead of helping the play of his strong
handed partner.